The Five Biggest Egos in EDM

August 7, 2013

One imagines that when you’re standing behind the decks at a massive concert, a solitary king ruling over an undulating sea of adoring fans, it’s hard not to feel a surge of absolute power and control. After all, you’re the DJ, the person in charge of sonically and spiritually guiding thousands of people towards BPM enlightenment and securing a place in their hearts, at least until the next mega-fest.

There are tons of perks that come with the worldwide adoration of EDM superstardom. But thanks to social media, we’re seeing the consequences of this nonstop jetsetting party lifestyle, and sometimes the results can be a bit, well, douchey. Here’s a list of DJs who may want to keep their publicists on speed dial.

This Scottish poster boy for beat-funded bacchanalia has become an absolute pro at archiving his splendor with the perfect Instagram filter. Replete with celebrity hobnobbing, yacht-related selfies and what appears to be a love affair with the step-and-repeat, Harris’ social media feed proves he is clearly no stranger to life’s luxuries. And thanks to the new 15 seconds of fury that is Instagram video, Harris is perfecting the art of the “moving selfie”.

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Credit: Chelsea Lauren

4. Wolfgang Gartner

Excluding those fortunate enough to cruise around in a private jet (looking at you Zedd) is anyone really safe from the vortex of anguish that is airplane travel? L.A.’s prince of house Wolfgang Gartner certainly isn’t, and he wants everyone to know about it. A quick glance at his Twitter account and you’re bound to see a flurry of first-class grievances amidst a sea of unfiltered DJ musings and dick jokes.

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Credit: Timothy Norris

3. Deadmau5

Perhaps Deadmau5 was looking to abscond some of his party sins when in 2012 he chose to illuminate the world of EDM as a circle jerk of no-talent button pushers. Sure, the mouse-headed one stirred up conversation, but man he must be jaded to pen such a caustic view of the emerging scene. (Bonus: Remember when he wore a shirt with Skrillex’s phone number on it to the Grammy’s?)

Diplo got women everywhere to “express themselves,” and when you’ve got half-naked women everywhere flooding your Twitter account with pictures and videos of themselves doing his signature ass-out hype girl twerk, it’s probably going to lead to an ego situation. We suppose if you constantly have to fend off gorgeous women and pore over multi-million dollar branding opportunities, there’s no indignity in telling the New York Times, “I’m pretty and I’m in Blackberry ads.”

Oh, and then there’s this:

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Timothy Norris

Afrojack

1. Afrojack

Afrojack is said to be a nice guy, but he certainly seems to be feeling himself. At least he was until earlier this year when, less than an hour of getting a new Ferrari 458 Italia (red), he smashed it up and later took to humblebragging about it online. “Have to take rear wheel drive lessons, 458 is a monster compared to the R8!” he tweeted. He’s also said to have dumped Paris Hilton, though he denied it, saying they’re just close friends. Either way, it’s more than enough to give one a big head.